In just a couple of weeks, Webster’s two high schools will come together as one to celebrate Homecoming. It will be the first time since the high schools split that this has ever happened. And if you ask me, it’s something that’s long overdue.

Webster has had two high schools since September 2001, when construction on the brand new Willink Middle School was completed and Thomas Middle School became Thomas High School. I was one of the inaugural staff members at the new high school, and clearly remember that first day ten years ago. I was sitting in the Schroeder auditorium with my fellow paraprofessionals, listening to the opening day “rah-rah” speech from district administrators, when then-Superintendent Tom Strining walked in.

Strining was there to deliver an important message: from Day One, he instructed, we were to refer to the separate high schools not as “Schroeder” and “Thomas,” but as “WEBSTER Schroeder” and “WEBSTER Thomas.” The idea was to constantly remind everyone – staff and community alike – that despite the fact we had two high schools, we were still one community.

That’s a good idea in theory. But we are a competitive species, and as soon as the students’ feet hit the hallways, the “cross-town rivalry” started up immediately. Constant comparisons were made between the two schools’ sports teams, staffing and equipment. We competed against each other in the annual Jar Wars fund-raiser. Rumors even swirled that the kids north of Rt. 104 got to go to the “new” school because their families had better connections.

And every year, Schroeder’s and Thomas’ homecoming festivities were held on different weeks.

But no more. This year the district finally got it right, and realized that if you want to promote unity, you have to provide opportunities to do so. This year, both schools will celebrate Homecoming the week of October 3-8, marked by special events and theme days in the schools. Both Homecoming football games will also be held that week (Thomas’ on Thursday and Schroeder’s on Saturday), along with an entire slate of sporting and musical events at both schools.

But most exciting of all, for the first time ever, the two Webster high schools will hold a joint Homecoming Parade on Saturday morning, October 8 in the Village of Webster. I’m sure more details will come out about this fun event in the next few weeks, but I know that all the schools’ sports teams will be marching, the classes will be creating individual floats, and of course the Webster High School Marching Band will be there leading the way.

What a great event — and a great week, for that matter — for our town. It’s going to be so neat to see our Thomas and Schroeder high school communities come together as one, and show everyone how extremely proud we are of BOTH schools.

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Missy Rosenberry, a graduate of Cornell University, spent many of her post-college years in radio, advertising and public relations. After taking most of the 1990s off to have her three children, she is now a full-time teaching assistant for the Webster school district, and a part-time karate instructor. She and husband Jack have lived in the Webster/Penfield area with the kids for 11 years. She'd like to use her blog to help others learn more about the Webster community.

Roderick Spratling is a husband and father of two who has lived in the community for over 18 years. Born and raised in Detroit, Spratling is a 1976 graduate of Michigan State University who earned a master’s degree in Manufacturing Management & Leadership from RIT in 2004. He’s a Purchasing Consultant in Global Purchasing for Xerox Corp., and he enjoys softball, bowling, photography, and traveling.